Jack Henry Hale

1924 - 2008

Jack Henry Hale departed this world on November 20, 2008, leaving his beloved family, who will eternally miss him. He was born on May 4, 1924, and was the oldest of eight children. He was loved very much and respected by all of them. He worked in Pearl Harbor after the bombing and then served in the Army in World War II as a military police officer. One of the things he enjoyed was sharing great stories of his Army days. When returning from the war, he joined the Roanoke Police Department. He then was employed at Pet Milk Company, starting as a milkman and then advancing to manager. In the 1970's, he went into business for himself selling cars.
Cars and racing has always been one of the greatest loves of his life. He started driving race cars in the late 1940's with one of his brothers. He was later known as the "Driving Milk Man". He has had the pleasure of racing with Curtis Turner and Wendel Scott. He truly loved telling these stories. He stopped racing in 1956, when his only child was born, but in 1992 he returned to his true love, behind the wheel of a race car, at the age of 68. He joined Virginia Old Timers. Then, he and a dear friend, Gerald Joyce, formed the Southern Vintage Modified Racing Association. At present, he belonged to Legendary Flat Head Ford Racing of North Carolina, where he had won four races this season. He enjoyed racing with these dear friends, Hurley and Linda Henshaw, Bill Blair, Munk and Betty Tate, Bob Shelton, David and Faye Prillaman.
His second love and joy in his life was his bluegrass music. He was personal friends with many of the Grand Ole Opry members, spent many hours in the woods running coons with Jimmy Martin and spending time backstage of the Opry with Roy Acuff and Dolly Parton. He emceed many bluegrass festivals and was a disc jockey at two of the local stations, playing strictly bluegrass. He loved and lived it. He dearly loved all of his followers and fans. He was known on the air for the "Little Country Church" and as "the Big Man". At the time, he owned his own exterminating company. He has many dear friends in this area also. L. H. Tuck, Ivan and Ellen Overstreet always enjoying their music.
His third love was hunting and fishing. Many, many hot afternoons were spent with one of his dearest friends, James Allen Brown, floating the river and sharing stories of "the one that got away". He holds the love of the Brown family dear to his heart. He was definitely a 16 year old in an 84 year old body. He was a member of the Brick Church of the Brethren. He also enjoyed bowling with his father and brothers on a league for several years.
Jack was preceded in death by his loving mother, Ruth Johnson Hale; father, Jackson Coleman (J.C.) Hale; brothers, George Coleman Hale and Johnnie Lewis Hale; sisters, Myrtle Brubaker Cawley and Mary Elizabeth Angle. He is survived by his loving daughter, Diane Hale Taylor and her husband, Steven Taylor; his grandson, Adam Saul and his wife, Brooke, and their two children; Jack's great-grandchildren, Kaiden and Lucy Saul; his grandson, Aaron Saul and his wife, Anita; his brothers, Roy Hale and wife, Shirley, Boerne, Texas, Ralph Hale and wife, Dottie, Roanoke, Va., Harry Hale and wife, Gloria, Wirtz, Va.; nieces, Brenda Perdue and Jimmy, Anigo, Wis., Kathy Walker and Bim, Salem, Va., Debbie Conroy, Frederick, Md., Terri Hale, Sacramento, Calif., Kim Bonaparte and Tony, Texas, Jennifer Olney and Wes, San Antonio, Texas, Tina Gallegos and Mike, San Antonio, Texas, Melanie Hanks and Jonathan, Boones Mill, Va., Sherri Hale, Rocky Mount, Va.; nephews, Freddie Angle and Becky, Salem, Va., Gary Hale and Cheryl, Westminster, Md., Mike Hale, Sacramento, Calif., Dennie Hale and Kristie, Hampton, Va. He was also survived by many very special friends, including Elsie Criner, of Danville, Va. He had many special racing friends and fans. He ran a long race and left many fans to live on his legacy.
The family will never be able to thank all the friends and family for all the help, rides, food, and cards given and sent during his car accident and illness. A very special thanks for all the prayers, visits, and cards from Sandy River Baptist. We could not have gotten through all of this without all of you. Remember God is in control and he loves us all.
Funeral services will be conducted from Flora Funeral Chapel 11 a.m. Saturday, November 22, 2008, with the Rev. Chips Doyle and the Rev. Joe Dillon officiating. Interment will follow in Mountain View Memorial Park with Military Honors. His family will receive friends Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Flora Funeral Service, 665 South Main Street, Rocky Mount.